Intro to Newborn Medicine

This class has been an amazing experience in my first semester. While in Practice of Medicine and other first-year courses we are mostly introduced to assessment of adults and their physiology, this selective allowed me to learn more about the differences in pediatric care. We covered alternative physiology of major organ systems and most common complications, but also got a chance to learn and practice a newborn exam. The class also covered nutrition and discharge planning, which were very new to most of the students. The highlight of the class was getting to know the parents of a child in the NICU. Each of the students was able to learn the parents’ story, their perspective on the difficult experience of effectively living in the hospital, and their fears, hopes, and happy moments with their child. Overall, it was a great opportunity to take a peek into pediatrics and neonatology.